Leaving the lab but not the field: research-related careers in dementia
26 February 2021
To mark Dementia Researcher’s careers festival (part of National Careers Week in the UK), we spoke to four people who moved from a research career into roles including science communication and project management.
New podcast: Increasing diversity in dementia research
3 February 2021
In our latest podcast, we speak to Feyi Raimi-Abraham, founder of the Black Dementia Company.
Frontotemporal dementia: a common form of young-onset dementia
26 January 2021
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common form of young-onset dementia, with several different subtypes involving changes in behaviour, personality and language skills.
DPUK Data Portal showcased in new podcast for early-career researchers
25 January 2021
In the latest episode of the Dementia Researcher podcast, Dr Sarah Bauermeister and Dr Danielle Newby explain how researchers can use the DPUK Data Portal to generate valuable new insights into dementia.
Sundowning: the condition with symptoms that appear at sunset
22 January 2021
Usually seen in people with mid-to-late-stage dementia, sundown syndrome is the appearance of regular behavioural changes such as agitation and confusion around sunset.
Could oestrogen explain why women are more at risk of dementia?
12 January 2021
Women are at greater risk of developing dementia than men, and the hormone oestrogen could be a reason why.
Posterior cortical atrophy: a dementia that affects the vision
4 January 2021
Posterior cortical atrophy (PCA) is a type of young-onset dementia affecting vision that is caused not by problems with the eyes, but by damage to the back of the brain.
What's it like to take part in a DPUK datathon?
16 December 2020
We spoke to Dr Donncha Mullin, a participant in the virtual DPUK datathon held in November 2020, about what it's like to take part in one of these events.
State-of-the-art brain scanners offer ‘incredible opportunities’ for dementia research
16 November 2020
At a virtual event hosted by SONA (the Society of Neuroscientists of Africa), DPUK’s Imaging Network lead, Professor Franklin Aigbirhio, explained how PET-MR scanners are enhancing dementia research.
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome: a treatable memory disorder
9 November 2020
We most often associate the symptoms of dementia with high-profile conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s. But dementia comes in many forms, and has many causes.
Vascular dementia: investigating cognitive impairment with 2,000 stroke survivors
21 October 2020
Stroke and vascular dementia are intrinsically related, with both being a risk factor for the other. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh led by Professor Joanna Wardlaw are studying stroke patients to learn more about the cognitive impairment that often follows a stroke, thanks to a grant from DPUK that allowed them to get started.
Symptomatic drugs for cognitive impairment in dementia: what to expect?
Dr Ivan Koychev, of DPUK and Oxford University's Department of Psychiatry, writes about new research into the effectiveness of drugs to treat the symptoms of dementia.
New podcast: DPUK's Professor John Gallacher on the future of dementia research
27 July 2020
We caught up with Professor John Gallacher, Director of Dementias Platform UK and Professor of Cognitive Health at Oxford University, to get his thoughts on the current state of play in dementia research – and what the future might hold.
Coronavirus care: supporting loved ones with dementia
1 June 2020
Supporting a family member through dementia is not easy, and the extra challenges introduced by the coronavirus lockdown can make matters even more challenging. Guest blogger Ruby Clarkson summarises the best advice and the help that's available.
Dementia prevention beyond educational attainment
There is mounting evidence suggesting that education has lifelong benefits that promote good health, and that it is more than a ‘gateway’ to a higher socioeconomic status. Pamela Almeida-Meza – PhD student in UCL’s Department of Behavioural Science and Health explains the nuances of the latest research findings in this area.
Pioneering stem cell research into dementia
Induced pluripotent stem cells are a special type of stem cell that's proving to be a crucial element in the fight to find the first life-changing treatment for dementia. Bryan Ng is one of the DPUK researchers who has been using them to study the cellular changes that take place when dementia takes hold.
Lockdown diary: doing dementia research in a time of coronavirus
27 March 2020
Distant colleagues, a screen-based social life and perhaps some home-schooling, has become the new normal for most of us now. Although some clinical researchers will be retraining to support coronavirus efforts, those who work with big data will be at home, doing their best to carry on there. Dementia research doesn’t stop in a time of corona – but it certainly changes. Dr Michele Veldsman, a dementia data researcher, is tracking her experience.
ECR journeys: from teaching English to exploring the impact of childhood traumas
Dr Delia Gheorghe is a postdoctoral research assistant at DPUK, investigating how childhood experiences influence brain structure in later life. This is how she got here.
ECR journeys: new steps from a small grant
Sometimes it’s only a small thing that triggers the changes that can lead to a dramatic step in your career. Here, Luke Whiley, an analytical chemist by training, reminds researchers to look out for opportunities in the small stuff. He tells the story of how a relatively small grant has taken him far in his career in dementia research – to the other side of the world in fact!
In conversation: Sarah Bauermeister and Chris Orton reflect on our most recent DPUK datathons
Two datathons in two weeks - autumn has certainly been busy season for the DPUK datathon team who have crossed the country to support a host of new dementia studies get off the ground. If you missed out on the DPUK datathons in UEA and Swansea, there are many more in the pipeline – don’t worry!